"An accident, sir," was the reply. "A coasting vessel has rammed us. I'm afraid we're badly hit; and the signals are out of business. We'll reverse in a moment if the engines are not disabled."
He waved a sailor down with the order to the engine-room. The big yacht trembled under the mighty strain and began to creep backward, inches at a time, since the nose of the other craft was tightly wedged in its vitals.
Britton was beside the captain in a moment, with a perfect stream of questions as to details and responsibility.
"The coasting steamer was entirely at fault, sir." Daniels gravely assured him. "She cut across our bow in spite of three warnings. Judging by her careening, the wheelsman was very drunk!"
An increased throbbing of the _Mottisfont's_ engines made the whole hull shiver, and the yacht scuttled backward from the coaster like an immense crab.
"She sinks! she sinks!" rose the cry from the sailors on the poop.
"What is sinking?" cried Britton, excitedly; "not the yacht!"
"No, the coaster," said Captain Daniels. "She has no water-tight compartments."
The terrified wail of the Arab crew proclaimed the inrush of the water as the steamer listed at an alarming rate to starboard. The officers shouted orders which were smothered in the tumult, for an uncontrollable panic seized passengers and sailors. Pandemonium in its wild, selfish authority ruled on the coaster's decks, and Britton, from the bridge of the _Mottisfont_, could view the mad, strenuous struggle for safety. A feminine cry startled him in its piercing shrillness.
"Good heavens!" he exclaimed, "there are women there, and those brutes of Berbers will trample them to death. Quick, man! Drive the yacht in close and throw out the ropes."
Daniels instantly obeyed, observing: "It's dangerous work, sir, and she's liable to drag us down when she founders, which may be any moment now!"
"Doesn't matter," said Britton, curtly. "We're bound to help them even if this was their own doing. Have you lowered the launch?"
"Mr. Ainsworth and Mr. Trascott have it, sir."
"They're out, sir, trying to take some of the passengers off. Why in the name of Neptune don't they lower their own?"
The _Mottisfont_ was larger than the steamer, and overtopped it as they drew in again. Britton leaned forward and listened to the tumult on the smaller vessel.